Green Energy Kills Birds

While this is a somewhat old story to free-market environmentalist types, the Los Angeles Times today reports on the dangers posed to birds by wind-turbine energy production. A wind turbine complex in the Altamont pass east of San Francisco has killed an estimated 22,000 birds,

including hundreds of golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, kestrels and other raptors, after flying into the spinning blades of the wind turbines.

Now, some environmental groups that routinely supported wind power as a clean, alternative source of electric power are opposing the renewal of permits for the wind farm until steps are taken to reduce the bird deaths.

Of course, as the article goes on to point out, wind turbines are relatively low on the list of threats to American avians. Still, it's an interesting reminder of the sometimes not-obvious secondary and tertiary effects of seemingly environmentally conscious choices.